Lines That Wound: Gerrymandering, Democracy, and the Trauma We Don’t Name
"Gerrymandering isn’t just political—it’s personal. It redraws the lines of who belongs and who gets erased. And that is trauma." — Mary Coughlin
Lines That Wound: Gerrymandering, Democracy, and the Trauma We Don’t Name
They call it redistricting.
Like it’s a neutral process. A bureaucratic task.
But anyone who has ever lost their voice to the stroke of a pen—or seen their community’s power diluted by an invisible hand—knows this is more than lines on a map.
This is a form of political trauma.
And it’s happening right now.
In Wisconsin, powerful interests are working overtime to redraw electoral maps to maintain control—regardless of what the people want.
This isn't just about politics. It's about power. It's about silencing. It's about deciding who gets to belong in a democracy.
And Wisconsin is just the latest chapter in a long story.
Districts across the United States have been carved and contorted to favor political parties for decades. Both parties have done it. But the impact isn’t abstract—it’s deeply personal.
It shapes who gets heard.
Who gets seen.
Who gets left behind.
Let’s be clear: gerrymandering is a form of systemic betrayal—and betrayal is trauma.
Because trauma isn’t just what happens in our bodies.
It’s what happens when the systems we’re taught to trust—healthcare, education, government—become agents of harm.
It’s what happens when the rules are rigged, when your vote is rendered meaningless, when your community is split apart and labeled “politically inconvenient.”
And here’s the thing no one says out loud:
People feel this.
Even if they can’t name it. Even if they don’t have the policy language or the civics vocabulary.
They feel the disconnect.
They feel the futility.
They feel the rage.
And if we’re not careful, we will shame that rage. We will gaslight that disillusionment.
We will say “just vote harder” instead of asking why so many people feel like their vote doesn’t matter in the first place.
A Trauma-Informed Democracy Begins With Truth
If we want to build a world that is truly trauma-informed—not just in our hospitals and classrooms but in our halls of power—then we must name these truths:
Gerrymandering is not a partisan issue. It is a moral one. No party should be allowed to redraw maps for their own gain. Not in Wisconsin. Not anywhere.
Silencing the will of the people is an act of violence. It erodes trust. It frays the social fabric. It creates communities who disengage not because they don’t care—but because they do, and they feel powerless.
We cannot separate civic trauma from collective health. When people are repeatedly ignored, manipulated, and disenfranchised, it shows up—in mental health, in hopelessness, in polarization, in chronic stress and disconnection.
So What Do We Do?
We draw new lines.
Not the kind that divide us—but the kind that connect.
We build trauma-informed civic spaces where:
Truth is not buried under spin
Participation is not a privilege
Everyone—regardless of zip code—is counted, seen, and heard
We support grassroots efforts fighting for fair maps.
We advocate for independent redistricting commissions.
We educate, mobilize, and listen—especially to those whose voices have been erased.
And we remember:
This isn’t just about policy.
It’s about dignity.
It’s about belonging.
It’s about healing a democracy that has wounded too many for too long.
The Invitation
If your heart is weary, I see you.
If your rage is rising, I honor it.
If your hope feels fragile, you’re not alone.
But this moment is not hopeless.
It’s a call.
To reimagine what’s possible.
To participate not out of blind optimism, but out of sacred responsibility.
Because the truth is: we are the cartographers now.
We get to draw the lines.
And may those lines not divide—but weave us into something truer, braver, and more beautiful than we’ve ever known.
With fierce love and unshakable hope,
Mary
P.S. If you've ever felt erased, silenced, or sidelined by the system—you’re not imagining it. But you’re not powerless either. Your voice is needed. Your vision is sacred. And your presence in this moment? That’s not an accident.
Let’s draw the lines that heal. Together.
Call to Action
Start here: Look up how redistricting works in your state.
Get curious. Ask questions. Talk about it. Share this post.
Because when we understand the lines that divide us, we can begin to redraw them—with justice, with care, and with courage.
